Uptown Beauty

Tucked inside the Fitness First gym in Angel is Uptown Beauty, where a speedy, immaculate Shellac polish will leave you with change from a twenty pound note (or treat yourself to a Shellac mani and pedi for just £28). The friendly beauticians here are also the queens of brows - offering an eyebrow tint and thread from £14. We popped in for a mini makeover, here’s what we thought:

As much as we all love a long pamper session, Londoners today are looking for cheap, quick treatments that you can fit into your lunchbreak. That’s exactly why Uptown Beauty has been such a hit since it opened: the chic beauty salon, a five minute walk from Angel Tube, offers quick, affordable treatments early ‘till late, from threading sessions, shaping, tints and tweezing to chrome nails, classic mani and pedis, shellac and lash services.

Uptown Beauty is run by beautician Amina, who has been doing nails for as long as she can remember. She’s just had the salon refurbished; the place is immaculate and bright white, with a small nail bar one end and a therapy chair the other. Pretty Essi and Shellac polishes and sweet pot plants give a pretty splash of colour.  

The second I arrived Amina insisted I have my brows done by the ‘queen of brows’, and boy, am I glad I did. Her lovely beautician was an absolute ninja with a piece of thread, leaving my unruly brows sleek, shaped, but just as thick. Impressive.

Eyebrows sorted, next I sat down with Amina for a little nail TLC. I only had time for a quick manicure and polish - and quick it was! Amina filed, buffed, worked on my cuticles and managed to paint a few layers of gel-like Essie paint in about 15 minutes. We chatted and laughed the whole time; Amina is not just a nail genius she’s as friendly as they come.

I left Uptown Beauty with great brows and oval-shaped, chip-resistant pink nails that stayed perfect for at least a week. One very happy customer!